U.S. Potato Exports Rebounded in October

U.S. potato and product exports all posted positive growth in October 2017 compared to 2016. Frozen exports were up 10 percent in volume and 11 percent in value, at $106 million. Exports of dehydrated potatoes rose 4 percent in volume and 5 percent in value, at $15 million. Fresh potato exports increased 9 percent in volume and 17 percent in value, to $15 million for the month.

Frozen volume export growth was paced by increases of 54 percent to Mexico, 10 percent to Central America, 49 percent to Indonesia, 26 percent to the Philippines, and 40 percent to Vietnam. Even exports to China were up 16 percent for the month, but are still down 23 percent for the marketing year (July through June) to date. A 7 percent decline in exports to Korea and 14 percent drop to Thailand were the only real negatives for the month.

Dehy volume export growth was led by an increase of 38 percent to Japan, 82 percent to Korea, and 194 percent to the Philippines. Exports to China continued to decline, down 12 percent for the month, with exports to Mexico also off 12 percent. Both countries are down for the marketing year to date.

Exports of fresh potatoes, both table-stock and chip-stock, received a large boost from a 48 percent increase to Mexico. There was also a 2,400 percent increase in exports of chipping potatoes to Korea, reversing the situation of virtually no exports the previous year. Unfortunately, there were also a lot of declines in fresh exports, led by 33 percent drop to the largest market, Canada. Exports to Canada are still, however, up 24 percent for the marketing year.

For more detailed export figures, click here for frozen, here for dehy, and here for fresh.